What cost democracy?
The Taxpayers Alliance should no longer be regarded as “one to watch” in terms of campaigning groups, as it has already made it’s mark in the political world under Matthew Elliotts stewardship.
They have recently highlighted the case of Bournemouth Council, whose cabinet recently approved a pay deal which included a 36% increase for the Deputy Leader and a 34% increase for the Leader of the council, taking his salary to £36,000 a year.
On the back of that I took the opportunity to write to all local Councillors to see how they would be voting, when the matter comes in front of the full council this week.
What is clear from the feedback I’ve had, is that the Lib Dems are dead set against the rise. There are only a handful of Labour councillors and I hadn’t heard back at the time of writing, and then several Conservatives were apparently going to listen to what is said in full council before voting.
Whilst I very much agree with what the Taxpayers Alliance are saying - in that how on earth anyone in the public sector thinks they can justify a pay increase of 30% it does call into question what should local councillors, if anything, get paid?
If you don’t pay councillors enough do you end up just getting retirees and those with spare time on their hands? Don’t tyou have to pay some sort of salary to compensate those who have full time jobs? Democracy costs money - but should the leader of a council get paid more than a teacher, policeman, or firefighter? There are plenty of councillors out there amongst this blogs readers. Do you get paid enough, or is it a struggle to do the job properly?
Jonathan Sheppard
Below isa rolling run down of responses so far from the Councillors who will ultimately decide on this issue:-
40 Conservative Councillors - 5 responses
Councillor Ian Newport - Conservative - listening to debate before deciding
Councillor Barry Goldbart - Conservative - listening to debate before deciding
Councillor Robert Lawton - Conservative - listening to debate before deciding
Councillor Rod Cooper - Conservative - not clear from response
Councillor David Smith - Conservative - listening to debate before deciding
7 Lib Dem Councillors - 7 responses
Councillor Richard Smith - Lib Dem - voting against proposal
Councillor Roger West - Lib Dem - not clear from response
Councillor Sue Levell - Lib Dem - Voting against proposal
Councillor Claire Prince - Lib Dem - voting against proposal
Councillor Lisa Northover - Lib Dem - voting against proposal
Councillor Pat Lewis - Lib Dem - voting against proposal
Councillor Carol Ainge - Lib Dem - voting against
4 Independent Councillors - 2 responses
Councillor Anne Rey - Independent - won’t be at full Council
Councillor Ronald Whittaker - Independent - supporting spread over 4 years
3 Labour Councillors - No responses
Filed under: Uncategorized
You could put the argument another way. I work for a council, and our Leader gets paid £35k pa to administer a budget of £300-600m (depending on how you count it). Even the most hands off leader has a role analogous to the chairman of a company, and for those who are more hands on it can be analogous to the CEO. How many private sector organisations would pay either so small an amount? Whist the Leader of the council I have in mind wouldn’t seek or want more allowances, one has to ask whether, on a broader scale, we can afford to pay peanuts and get monkeys with people in such important jobs?
Prentiz - fair point - and one I think needs to debate. Do you see the Leader of the council (elected politician) being more important than the Chief Exec of the Council?
I suspect in most cases the Chief Exec is paid more than double the actual leader of the Council. Shoudl we advocate more money for the politcians and less for the officials?
Jonathan Sheppard
The relative importance of the Chief Exec to the Leader really depends on the personalities of the individuals involved. Either can be a crucial driver of change. You are wrong to say that CX salaries are double those of leaders - most council leaders are paid (including basic allowance) between £30-45k pa. The average CX for a first tier authority (county or unitary) will get well over £150kpa. I’m not sure that cutting CX pay would do the job - again it compares poorly with the private sector - would be more interesting to examine the obstacles that prevent successful private sector managers moving into the public sector at this level…
So should we expect a greater bill for local democracy?
Should there be performace related pay for council leaders - or should their performance be judged by the ballot box?
When my Mother was first elected to a large Metropolitan Council in the 1980’s she received an allowance of £4.40 per week (fixed) plus 47p travel expenses per council meeting. Any non-council functions she attended, such as advisory boards or local charitable meetings, did not even attract reimbursement of travel costs as these were deemed to be ancillary to the council’s main function.
Compare this to a good friend (who I shall refrain from naming) who is a portfolio holder (cabinet member) in a large London Borough. Last year his fees (including councillor’s allowances and special responsibility payments) were approaching £50,000. For this, he attends between 8 - 10 meetings per month and takes one (unpaid) day a week off work to fulfil his council duties.
Sadly, these increases in payments do not appear to be matched by a corresponding improvement in accountability or influence. In fact, councillors now seem to be happy to trade their civic duty for a life of free lunches on board the municipal gravy train; pawns in a game of democratic charades.
As far as I can see, too many councillors have allowed themselves to become second class citizens in their own Town Halls, largely ignored by patronising officials and “hog tied” by legislation, best practice and an ultimate desire not to rock the boat or bite the hand that feeds. So, three cheers for councils like Wandsworth, H&F and Westminster who continue to lead from the front, implementing real political decisions that make a difference to their local communities. If only more followed their lead.
Most council leader are not paid £30-45K.
Please see the LGAR report on allowances here
http://www.lgar.local.gov.uk/lgv/core/page.do?pageId=26788